Yarn holder



w. P. HESS YARN HOLDER March 23, 1943.

Filed MayZ 1942 s Sheets-Sheet 1 w\ & M M m w M V. B IIII l4 g ATTORNEY;

March 23; 1943.

w. P. mass YARN HOLDER Filed May 2, 1942 3 SheefEs-Sheet 2 INVENTOR." 'wnmRJCess ATTORNEYS March 23, 1943. I w. P. HESS 2,314,619

' YARN HOLDER Filed May 2., 1942 s Sheets-Sheet s g; A N\ H q 1 m N m q J a 2 Q s a E U Q m N v INVENTOR. I ZUmJQJCess BY 1 v ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 23, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE YARN HOLDER William P. Hess, Menlo Park, Calif. Application May 2, 1942, Serial No. 441,481

6 Claims.

This invention relates in general to a portable holder for hank yarn for knitting, and in particular the invention is directed to, and it is my principal object to provide, a portable yarn holder which is a rotary unit arranged to receive and support a skein of yarn in extended position, which eliminates the necessity of balling the yarn, saves considerable time, prevents tangling of the yarn, and assures ready release of the yarn to the knitter.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable yarn holder as above which is collapsible, and which when not in use is collapsed and disposed within a carrying frame or case enclosed within a carrying bag; the frame or case when the yarn holder is unfolded and locked in operative position serving as a stand for the yarn holder, the latter being rotatable relative to said stand.

A further object of the invention is to provide a yarn holder as above in which the rotary yarn holding unit is removable from the case and arranged so that it may be mounted selectively on the case at either end, or, if it is not convenient to use the stand, mounted on a separate auxiliary block adapted for attachment in any desired position to a piece of furniture or the like.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a yarn holder which includes an upstanding initially open-topped case having a vertically movable plate or platform therein; the rotary yarn holding unit being secured in connection with said plate and collapsed within said .case when not in use; the vertically movable plate being disposed at and secured to the upper end of the case when the yarn holding unit is unfolded and in use. The yarn holding unit includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial arms hinged to a disc-like hub pivoted axially in connection with the vertically movable plate or platform.

It is also an object of the invention to provide unique means to maintain the rotating arms of indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Y Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved yarn holder shown in its folded position in full lines, and in its unfolded or operative po sition in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the yarn holder unfolded and in operative position. Figure 3 is a plan view of the vertically movable plate or platform detached from the case; the arms being in folded position and in section.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the vertically movable plate or platform.

Figure 5 is an elevation, partly in section, with the rotary yarn holding unit mounted on the case with the latter inverted.

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of the auxiliary attachment block as mounted on a chair back or the like.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, my improved yarn holder comprises a substantially rectangular base I, to which are secured upstanding side posts 2 which are in the form of fiat panels disposed in symmetrical relation to each other. Ad jacent their upper ends, the posts 2 are secured in rigid relation by suitable means such as a surrounding retaining band 3.

The base I and posts 2 form in effect a case in which is a substantially rectangular, vertically movable plate or platform 4, notched as at 5 for the reception in guiding relation of the posts 2. The plate 4 is thus arranged for guided vertical sliding movement from a position in the case resting atop base I to an elevated position at the upper ends of posts 2, as shown in Fig. 1. Plate 4 is releasably locked in such elevated position, when the device is in use, by turn latches 6 pivoted on top of plate 4 adjacent opposite ends thereof and adapted to be turned with one end in overlying relation to the upper ends of opposite ones of said posts 2.

The yarn holding unit comprises a disc-shaped hub I having an axial shaft 8 rotatably but nonremovably mounted thereon; said shaft at its upper end and above hub i being formed with a finger knob 9. The lower end of the shaft 3 projects some distance below hub T, and is there fitted with oppositely projecting radial pins iii. This projecting portion of the shaft 8, together with pins Ill, releasably engages in a matching bayonet slot Ii formed centrally in plate 4.

Four relatively long arms I2 are pivoted at their inner ends, as at l3, to the hub l for upward swinging movement from horizontal and in a vertical plane; such arms, when horizontal, extending from the hub radially thereof and in symmetrically spaced relation thereabout, Stops I4 prevent lowering movement of arms l2 below a horizontal plane, and when the arms are extended or unfolded to horizontal position, and which is their operative position as will hereinafter appear, the following means is employed to prevent accidental folding or upward movement thereof:

A fiat, relatively thin disc l5, preferably of metal and of substantially the same diameter as hub 1, seats flush on top of the latter, and is mounted for pivotal movement about shaft 8. A knob I8 is mounted on and projects upwardly from disc l from an off-center position; the disc at circumferentially spaced points symmetrical to the arms l2 and for a circumferential distance at least equal to the width of said arms, being notched as at H whereby when disc I5 is rotated until said notched portions aline with the arms l2, the latter may fold upward without obstruction. Between the notches are depending fianges [1a which engage and hold the arms against upward movement when the disc notches are out of alinement with said arms. It will thus be seen that with relatively short rotativemotion of disc l5, the arms l2 may either be locked in horizontally and radially projecting position relative to the hub, or may be permitted to fold upward.

Adjacent their outer ends, th arms are each fitted with an upstanding yarn holding finger l8, and which fingers areconcave on their outer edges. In order to accommodate skeins of yarn of different diameter, the fingers l8 are mounted on the arms for adjustment lengthwise thereof and by suitable means, which are here shown as tongues I 9 cooperating with selected ones of longitudinally spaced slots 20.

When the device is in operative position, the plate 4 is elevated to the top of the case and locked in position; the arms then being locked in position and radiating from the hub I, which is rotatable about shaft 8 as an axis and relative to plate 4. The skein S of yarn is arranged on the rotary yarn holding unit in the manner indicated, being supported by the fingers [8. The knitter, as the yarn is used, releases the same from the yarn holder by merely rotating the unit, and which is accomplished by a slight pull on the yarn.

When the yarn holder is not in use, it may be folded by rotating disc I5 until notches H match the arms, releasing catches 6 and depressing the plate l4 into the case and downward to the base I; such movement of the plate 4 resulting in upward folding of the arms l2 relative to the hub I, and both of which are carried into the case by plate 4. The length of arms I2 is such that they do not project above thetop of the case when the device is folded.

The case is fitted with a carrying bag 2| secured at its lower end to the base I about the edge of the latter and extending upwardly to a point above the top of the case where the bag is provided with a draw-string 22. When the rotary yarn holding unit is folded into'the case, the draw-string may be used to draw the top of the bag over the upper end of the case for carrying.

When it is desired that the case present a neat appearance when in use, the rotary yarn holding unit is detached from plate 4 by releasing shaft 8 and pins ID from "the bayonet slot in said plate. The case is then inverted and its normally upper but thenlower end is seated on the floor; the bag 2| extending downward as a drape, as shown in Fig. 5, neatly enclosing the case. The base I, which is uppermost when the case is thus inverted, is formed with a centrally disposed bayonet slot 23, into which the shaft 8 and pins [0 are engaged, whereby the rotary yarn holding unit is supported above base I, as is shown in Fig. 5.

Under certain circumstances, it may not be convenient to use the case, as the support for the rotary yarn holding unit, and I therefore provide theauxiliary supporting block 24 shown in Fig. 6. This block is adapted to be attached to a chair back or the like 25 by means of a man ually actuated spring clamp 26; the block 24 being formed with a centrally disposed bayonet slot 2'! into which the shaft 8 and pins l0 engage, whereby to support the rotary yarn holding unit on the block for use.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention asset forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined bythe appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1.. A yarn holder comprising an upstanding initially open-topped case, a platform mounted in the-case for sliding movement from one end thereof to the other, releasable locking means to lock-the platform atthe initially open top of the case a hub pivotally mounted on said platform, relatively long arms radiating from the hub. in spaced relation, means hinging said arms on the hub for folding movement relative thereto, releasable securing means to hold the arms in position at substantially right angles to the. axis of ,the hub, and fingers projecting from the arms-generally parallel to the hub axis when the arms are at such angle: the arms being adapted to fold upward relative to the hub and move into the caseupon release of said locking and securing means and downward movement of said platform into said case.

2. A yarn holder as in claim 1 including a carrying bag surrounding the case; the lower "end of thebag being attached to the correend of the bag being attached to the correspondend of the case being formed for said axial element.-

4. A yarn holder comprising an upstanding case having a platform at its upper end, a hub rotatably mounted on said platform, arms radiating from said hub in spaced relation, and an upstanding finger on each arm adjacent its outer end} "said platform being arranged for lowering'movement into the case, and said arms being hinged on the hub for upward folding movement whereby the arms may fold and follow the platform into the case.

5. A yarn holder comprising an upstanding case having. a top platform, means mounting the platform for guided lowering movement into tli case, means releasably securing the platform elevated position, a hub rotatably mounted on the platform, upwardly foldable arms radiating from the hub in spaced relation, and a finger projecting upwardly from each arm adjacent the outer end of the latter; said platform, hub, and arm being arranged to move into the case upon release and lowering of said platform, and the accompanying folding of the arms.

6. A ;yarn holder comprising an upstanding case initially open at its upper end, a rotary vated, and a finger mounted each arm and projecting upwardly therefrom L ,when the arms are horizontal; said member and arms being adapted to move into the case upon release and lowering of said member and accompanying folding of said arms.

WILLIAM F. HESS. 

